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Story
October 7, 1889
The Evening World
New York, New York County, New York
What is this article about?
In Philadelphia, a cat dealer anticipates high demand from old maids buying cats to warm their cold feet at night, curing 'ephemallia' and preventing sleeplessness in cool weather.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
TARBY'S NEW VOCATION.
Feline Foot-Warmers as Promoter of Sleep for Ephremiallia Victims.
Cats will soon be in great demand," said an Eighth street dealer to a Philadelphia North American reporter, as he rubbed his hands in joyful anticipation.
Cats in great demand?" inquired a bystander.
Before he could reply a rather crab-apple-looking spinster entered and asked to see a few of the best … punks.
The gentlemanly dealer courteously asked the old girl to step back and she should see a mess of the finest.
What occurred back in the yard is not known, but when the lady reappeared she carried a mysterious something under her arm and was softly murmuring, it's too lovely."
Now to answer that question," the merchant said. "You see, this cool weather, and the colder fast approaching, makes the lives of many of the old maids almost intolerable.
At night their feet become so cold that to sleep is next to impossible. This disease is called the 'ephemallia,' and it has but one cure, that of contact with a warm body.
It is for this purpose we keep a large number of cats on hand. The boys gather them from around in the alleys and bring them here for a few cents apiece.
The old maid comes along and does not begrudge paying several dollars for a nice fat puss. Oh, there's lots of money in it."
Feline Foot-Warmers as Promoter of Sleep for Ephremiallia Victims.
Cats will soon be in great demand," said an Eighth street dealer to a Philadelphia North American reporter, as he rubbed his hands in joyful anticipation.
Cats in great demand?" inquired a bystander.
Before he could reply a rather crab-apple-looking spinster entered and asked to see a few of the best … punks.
The gentlemanly dealer courteously asked the old girl to step back and she should see a mess of the finest.
What occurred back in the yard is not known, but when the lady reappeared she carried a mysterious something under her arm and was softly murmuring, it's too lovely."
Now to answer that question," the merchant said. "You see, this cool weather, and the colder fast approaching, makes the lives of many of the old maids almost intolerable.
At night their feet become so cold that to sleep is next to impossible. This disease is called the 'ephemallia,' and it has but one cure, that of contact with a warm body.
It is for this purpose we keep a large number of cats on hand. The boys gather them from around in the alleys and bring them here for a few cents apiece.
The old maid comes along and does not begrudge paying several dollars for a nice fat puss. Oh, there's lots of money in it."
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Animal Story
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Recovery
What keywords are associated?
Cats
Old Maids
Cold Feet
Ephemallia
Foot Warmers
What entities or persons were involved?
Eighth Street Dealer
Spinster
Old Maid
Where did it happen?
Philadelphia, Eighth Street
Story Details
Key Persons
Eighth Street Dealer
Spinster
Old Maid
Location
Philadelphia, Eighth Street
Story Details
A Philadelphia cat dealer explains that with cold weather approaching, old maids suffer from 'ephemallia'—cold feet preventing sleep—and buy cats as foot warmers, turning alley cats into profitable sales.